Leveling device for pool tables

ABSTRACT

A pool table comprises a table top having a pair of leg structures secured thereto. Each leg structure is provided with a pair of leveling devices, each of which includes a vertical threaded foot member having a floor engaging element on the lower end thereof. Each foot member is threadedly engaged by a threaded foot shifting member which may be revolved by an actuating lever in either direction to cause vertical movement of the table while each foot member remains stationary. The actuating lever is provided with indicia (up or down) to readily apprise a user of the direction the foot member is being shifted.

United States Patent Nielsen 3,653,341 Apr. 4, 1972 154] LEVELING DEVICEFOR POOL TABLES [72] Otto Sevenen Nielsen, 4875 Sorill Avenue South,Minneapolis, Minn. 55422 Aug. 26, 1970 Inventor:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl ..108/l44, 248/180, 248/188.4 lnt.Cl. ..A47b 9/00,F16m l1/12,F16m11/24 Field of Search 108/144 T; 248/180, 188.4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,828,578 4/1958 McCabe..248/188 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 34,900 10/1908 Austria..108/ 144 MIT-amt- Primary Examiner-Paul R. GilliamAttorney-Williamson, Palmatier & Bains [5 7] ABSTRACT A pool tablecomprises a table top having a pair of leg structures secured thereto.Each leg structure is provided with a pair of leveling devices, each ofwhich includes a vertical threaded foot member having a floor engagingelement on the lower end thereof. Each foot member is threadedly engagedby a threaded foot shifting member which may be revolved by an actuatinglever in either direction to cause vertical movement of the table whileeach foot member remains stationary;

The actuating lever is provided with indicia (up or down) to readilyapprise a user of the direction the foot member is being shifted.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LEVELING DEVICE FOR POOL TABLES SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION Some commercially available pool tables have been providedwith adjustable leg features which permit the table top to be properlyleveled. Typically, these leveling features include a threaded footelement which is revolved relative to a nut which in turn is welded tothe pool table leg. A lock nut is provided and must be loosened beforethe foot element can be revolved. However, in this type of adjustment,the floor engaging foot element must be raised from its engagingrelation with the floor before adjustment can be made.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide the legstructure of a pool table with a plurality of leveling devices which maybe adjusted while the pool table is supported on the floor. Theseleveling devices each include a threaded foot member which engages thefloor and which is threadedly engaged by a revolvable foot shifting nutmember. Each of these foot shifting members has indexing elementsthereon which coact with indexing elements on an actuating lever,whereby the nut may be rotated in either direction by the associatedactuating member to permit vertical movement of the table while eachfoot member remains stationary. Suitable indicia are provided on eachactuating lever to readily apprise a user of the direction of verticalmovement of each foot member.

Thus leveling of the pool table may be readily accomplished byselectively raising or lowering each or every foot member as desired.These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of a pool table incorporating the novel leveling devices;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of a corner portion of the legstructures of the pool table partly in section and partly in elevationillustrating the details of construction of a leveling device withcertain parts thereof broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings andmore specifically to FIG. I, it will be seen that a pool table,designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is there shown. Thispool table includes a horizontally oriented table top 11 having siderails 12 and end rails 13 affixed to the periphery thereof. Suitablebumpers 14 are mounted on the inner surfaces of the side and end railsto permit the pool balls to rebound in a well-known manner. The tabletop will be covered by a suitable fabric cover and the top is providedwith the conventional pockets 15.

The pool table includes a pair of generally vertically orientedsupporting leg structures 16 which are spaced apart from each other andwhich are located adjacent the opposite ends of the table top. Each legstructure includes a non-structural pedestall7 which is secured to thelower end of the leg structure and which serves primarily asa.decorative device. Each leg structure 16 includes a pair of opposedend walls 18, opposed side walls 19, and a bottom wall 20. Similarly,each pedestal includes opposed end walls 21, opposed side walls 22, atop wall 24 and a metallic bottom wall or plate 23. In this regard, itis pointed out that the pedestals are preferably formed of anon-metallic material except for the bottom wall or plate 23 of thepedestal, which as pointed out above, is formed of metal.

Each leg structure is provided with a pair of leveling devices 25 whichare secured thereto and depend therefrom, as best seen in FIG. 2. Eachleveling device is located adjacent the respective end portions of theassociated leg structure, and

each includes an elongate vertically oriented sleeve 26 which is rigidlyafiixed to and projects upwardly from the bottom wall or plate 23 of theassociated pedestal. Thus the bottom plate of each pedestal has a pairof openings therein, each of which communicates with one of the sleeves26. The upper end portion of each sleeve 26 has a radial flange 27integrally formed therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom.

Each leveling device also includes an elongated vertically orientedthreaded member 28 which has an antiskid floor engaging element 29secured to the lower end portion thereof. It will be noted that thisfloor engaging element 29 for each foot member is of flat constructionand is horizontally oriented to support one comer of the pool table upona floor or other supporting surface.

Each leveling device also includes a foot shifting member 30 which is inthe form of a threaded nut having a radial flange 31 integrally formedtherewith and projecting outwardly therefrom. Each foot shifting memberthreadedly engages the upper end portion of a foot member and rotationof the foot shifting member causes vertical shifting movement of thetable while the associated foot member 28 remains stationary. It will benoted that each foot shifting member has a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apart indexing notches 32 therein, eachadjacent pair of indexing notches defining a pair of indexing elements33. A non-metallic preferably plastic washer 34 is interposed betweenthe upper surface of the radial flange of each foot shifting member andthe bottom wall 20 of .the associated leg structure. In this regard, itwill be noted that each pedestal has a pair of recesses 35 formedtherein as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. The recesses 35 communicateoutwardly through the inner side wall and are located adjacent oppositeend portions of each pedestal.

Each leveling device also includes an elongate actuating lever 36 whichhas an opening 37 in the inner end portion thereof, the openingaccommodating and receiving the associated foot shifting member 30therethrough. Thus the actuating lever 36 for each leveling device ispositioned around its associated foot shifting member or nut but isinterposed between the radial flange 31 and the flange 27 of theassociated sleeve 26. The opening 37 for each lever is of elongateconfiguration and permits each actuating lever to be shiftedlongitudinally towards and away from the associated foot shiftingmember. When each actuating lever 36 is shifted longitudinally outwardlyaway from its associated foot shifting member, then each actuating levermay pivot or swing relative to its associated foot shifting member.

It will be noted that each actuating lever is of substantially flatconfiguration and is provided with a pair of indexing elements 38 whichare integrally formed therewith and project upwardly therefrom. Theseindexing elements are spaced apart with respect to each other andproject upwardly from opposite longitudinal edges of the lever adjacentthe inner end portion thereof. The spacing between the indexing elements38 on each actuating lever is such that when each actuating lever isurged longitudinally inwardly, these indexing elements 38 may be urgedinto a pair of adjacent indexing notches 32 and engage the associatedindexing elements 33 to permit the actuating lever and associated footshifting member to be swung or pivoted in unison. It is quite apparentthat by interlocking the coacting indexing elements on each actuatinglever and its associated foot shifting member and thereafter swingingthe actuating lever in either direction, the foot shifting member may berotated relative to its associated foot member and thereby producevertical movement of the table while the foot member remains stationary.

Each actuating lever also has indicia 39 on the outer end portionthereof and on the upper surface thereof. It will be noted that thisindicia (up or down), along with directional arrows, permits a user tobe apprised of the direction of movement of the associated foot member.Therefore, if it is desirable to lower the table adjacent one comer,then the actuating lever would be moved in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 3. Movement of the lever in the opposite direction wouldprovide upward vertical movement of the corner portion of the table.Referring again to FIG. 3 it will be noted that the wall portion of thepedestal defining each recess 35 has a small magnet 40 embedded thereinto releasably hold the outer end portion of the associated actuatinglever 36 thereagainst in an out-of-the-way position when the actuatinglever is not being used. ln this regard, it will be noted that the outerend portion of the actuating lever is tapered and projects slightlyoutwardly beyond the recess to facilitate movement of the lever by auser.

When a user needs to level the table top 11, the four leveling devices25 may be individually and selectively adjusted. To do this, a user willcause the indexing elements 38 on the actuating lever to interengage theindexing elements on the associated foot shifting member and then movethe lever in the desired direction. In the embodiment shown, the levermay be swung through an arc of less than 90 in its power stroke torotate the associated foot shifting member and may be movedlongitudinally outwardly to disengage from the indexing elements on thefoot shifting member in the return stroke. The actuating lever may thenreengage the foot shifting member for another power stroke by shiftingthe lever longitudinally inwardly again. Adjustment may be made for eachleveling device until the desired disposition of the table top isaccomplished.

it is pointed out that by rotating the foot shifting member or nut, eachfoot member remains stationary and will not rotate relative to thesurface upon which the pool table is supported. Thus adjustment may beeasily accomplished through the use of the present leveling devices. Itis also pointed out that minute accurate micrometer-like adjustments canalso be accomplished by the present device. Since the leveling devicesare located adjacent the corner portions of the leg structure, theseleveling devices are readily accessible to a user. The directionalindicia permits a user to be apprised instantly of the direction theassociated foot member will be moved. Since the actuating lever ispermanently attached to each foot member, there is no chance of theactuating member being lost.

It will also be pointed out that the entire weight of the pool table istransmitted from the leg structures directly to the threaded footmembers to the supporting surface so that the pedestals do not bear thestructural load.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided anovel leveling device for use with pool tables which permits a user toreadily level the table top of the pool table. The unique constructionof the present leveling devices permits the table to be shifted in avertical direction so no great torque load is transmitted to the footmember. The present leveling devices also permit accuratemicrometer-like adjustment while permitting the foot members to remainin engaging relation with respect to the floor during the adjustment.

Thus it will be seen that l have provided a novel leveling device, whichis not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one whichfunctions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore knowncomparable device.

What is claimed is:

l. A pool table comprising a horizontal table top,

a pair of spaced apart leg structures secured to said table top anddepending therefrom,

means for leveling said leg structures including a pair of levelingdevices for each leg structure, each device including an elongatevertically oriented threaded foot member having a floor engaging elementsecured to the lower end thereof, a threaded nut for each foot memberand each nut including an outwardly projecting annular flange having aplurality of spaced apart teeth in the periphery thereof, each nutthreadedly engaging one of said foot members and engaging one of saidleg structures whereby rotation of a nut relative to its associated footmember causes vertical movement of the nut and vertical movement of theassociated le structure, each device also including an e ongate singlepiece actuatlaterally spaced apart index element integral therewith Iand projecting therefrom, the spacing between said index elements beingonly slightly greater than the width of a tooth on said flange wherebywhen said actuating member is shifted longitudinally inwardly, saidindexing elements will engage a tooth on said flange to cause rotationof the associated nut upon rotation of the actuating member, and whensaid actuating member is shifted longitudinally outwardly, said indexelements will disengage from a tooth to permit rotation of saidactuating member relative to its associated nut.

2. The pool table as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said legstructures has an elongate flat horizontal lower wall,

a pedestal secured to the lower end of each leg, the respective footmembers of a pair of said leveling devices projecting through each ofsaid pedestals, and each nut for a pair of devices bearing against thelower wall of one of said leg structures.

3. The pool table as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said pedestalsincludes opposed side walls and opposed end walls, a pair of spacedapart recesses in one side wall of each pedestal, and each recessreceiving a major portion of each actuator member therein.

4. The pool table as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said legstructures also includes a pair of opposed side walls and a pair ofopposed end walls.

5. The pool table as defined in claim 1 and indicia on each of saidactuating members indicating the direction of vertical movement of theassociated foot member when the associated actuating member is swung ina predetermined direction.

1. A pool table comprising a horizontal table top, a pair of spacedapart leg structures secured to said table top and depending therefrom,means for leveling said leg structures including a pair of levelingdevices for each leg structure, each device including an elongatevertically oriented threaded foot member having a floor engaging elementsecured to the lower end thereof, a threaded nut for each foot memberand each nut including an outwardly projecting annular flange having aplurality of spaced apart teeth in the periphery thereof, each nutthreadedly engaging one of said foot members and engaging one of saidleg structures whereby rotation of a nut relative to its associated footmember causes vertical movement of the nut and vertical movement of theassociated leg structure, each device also including an elongate singlepiece actuating member having an elongate opening in one end thereof,receiving a nut therethrough and permitting rotation of the actuatingmember relative to its associated nut and also permitting inward andoutward longitudinal shifting movement of the actuating member relativeto its associated nut, each actuating member having a pair of laterallyspaced apart index element integral therewith and projecting therefrom,the spacing between said index elements being only slightly greater thanthe width of a tooth on said flange whereby when said actuating memberis shifted longitudinally inwardly, said indexing elements will engage atooth on said flange to cause rotation of the associated nut uponrotation of the actuating member, and when said actuating member isshifted longitudinally outwardly, said index elements will disengagefrom a tooth to permit rotation of said actuating member relative to itsassociated nut.
 2. The pool table as defined in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid leg structures has an elongate flat horizontal lower wall, apedestal secured to the lower end of each leg, the respective footmembers of a pair of said leveling devices projecting through each ofsaid pedestals, and each nut for a pair of devices bearing against thelower wall of one of said leg structures.
 3. The pool table as definedin claim 2 wherein each of said pedestals includes opposed side wallsand opposed end walls, a pair of spaced apart recesses in one side wallof each pedestal, and each recess receiving a major portion of eachactuator member therein.
 4. The pool table as defined in claim 3 whereineach of said leg structures also includes a pair of opposed side wallsand a pair of opposed end walls.
 5. The pool table as defined in claim 1and indicia on each of said actuating members indicating the directionof vertical movement of the associated foot member when the associatedactuating member is swung in a predetermined direction.